Technology Highlight: First-Time Triple-Pane Window Installation with Cesar’s Painting

Spotlight on Cesar’s Painting | Minneapolis, MN 

For over a decade, Cesar’s Painting has taken on a wide range of residential and commercial projects, from drywall and painting to light remodeling. While window installation isn’t a core service, the team recently took on their first ENERGY STAR® triple-pane project—and found it surprisingly straightforward. Their experience shows that even without specialized training, a skilled crew can confidently handle high-performance window upgrades.

For over a decade, Cesar Torres has been running Cesar’s Painting, a small contracting business that takes on both residential and commercial projects, primarily focused on drywall, painting, and light remodeling work. While window installation isn’t a core service, the team occasionally accepts those projects based on customer demand. One of those projects recently involved installing ENERGY STAR® certified triple-pane windows for the first time and the experience left a strong impression. 

Trying Out Triple-Pane: A Contractor's Perspective 

“This was our first time working with ENERGY STAR windows,” said Cesar. “We usually work with whatever brand or product the customer wants—Andersen, Home Depot, anything that fits their budget.” 

Although Cesar’s Painting doesn’t specialize in windows and hasn’t undergone formal external training, the crew has developed solid in-house practices for replacements over time. When asked about how many window projects they typically take on, Cesar said, “Here and there.” But even with limited frequency, the team was confident going into the triple-pane installation. 

“We didn’t really notice a difference between installing double-pane and triple-pane windows,” he shared. “We just followed our usual process—replacing any rotten wood or insulation before installing.” 

Labor and Cost: Minimal Impact 

One common concern with triple-pane windows is whether their added weight or size increases labor requirements. For Cesar’s team, this wasn’t the case. The four-person crew completed the job without extra effort or equipment, and labor costs stayed consistent with past window projects.  “About the same labor cost. No major concerns,” said Cesar. “We didn’t even think about it being triple-pane.” 

Any installation hiccups were tied more to the age of the home than the windows themselves. “It was an older home, so there was some rotten wood and bad insulation, but that’s typical. Nothing related to the windows specifically.” 

Customer-Driven Products, Contractor Confidence 

Cesar emphasized that his business model puts customers in charge of product selection, especially for windows. "We don’t purchase windows ourselves. The customer picks what they want, and we install it.” While Cesar’s Painting doesn’t recommend specific brands, Cesar was enthusiastic about the triple-pane products used in this pilot project. “Absolutely, I’d recommend them in the future,” he said. “They’re nice windows. Easy to work with, not complicated or fancy. Just accessible and straightforward.” 

Wise Window Hub Takeaway 

The building owner has an eye for future-proofing, having installed storm windows in some of their other properties to extend the service life and performance of those units - and upgrading to triple-pane windows was a natural expansion of that experience for this property 

Triple-pane windows may seem intimidating for contractors unfamiliar with them, but Cesar’s Painting proves that a skilled crew with solid installation basics can handle the upgrade with ease. For contractors who don’t install windows often but want to expand their offerings—or meet growing customer demand for energy-efficient homes—triple-pane windows are worth considering.